Cycling upper garment

ABSTRACT

A cycling upper garment is provided that enables the wearer&#39;s elbows to bend more readily while suppressing the resulting increase in air resistance. The cycling upper garment is provided with an upper garment main body and a pair of sleeves. The sleeves are attached to both sides of the upper garment main body with each of the sleeves having an expanded section that is provided in a portion corresponding to a wearer&#39;s elbow joint and configured to expand from both adjacent sections.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-172619. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-172619 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to an upper garment. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cycling upper garment for a rider to wear when riding a bicycle.

2. Background Information

Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the products that the rider uses during the bicycling. For example, there are many types of garments that are especially designed for use during the bicycling.

Jerseys and other cycling upper garments intended for use when riding a bicycle, particularly long-sleeved upper garments, are often used in winter road races and mountain bike races. Cycling upper garments are designed to fit closely to the wearer's body in order to reduce the air resistance experienced as much a possible when worn during riding. An example of a cycling upper garment for a rider (cyclist) is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,485.

In order to enable the cycling upper garment to fit closely, conventional cycling upper garments are made using a stretchy fabric. Meanwhile, upper garments intended for use in the winter are sometimes made of materials that are not very stretchy in order to limit the passage of air. When an upper garment that fits the body closely or has a low degree of stretchiness is worn, it is sometimes difficult for the wearer to bend his or her elbows. While wearing such an upper garment, it can be difficult for a rider to move freely during a bicycle race or the like and there is the possibility that the rider's ability to steer and change gears will be inhibited. If the entire sleeve is made to have a fuller fit in order to allow the elbow to bend more readily, wrinkles can develop and cause the air resistance to increase.

Moreover, even in cold weather, sometimes the rider gets too warm and wishes to cool off. A conceivable way to allow the rider to cool off with out taking off the cycling upper garment is to provide a ventilation opening in the cycling upper garment to improve the air permeability. An example of such an upper garment is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0133962. The upper garment described in patent application publication has two side ventilation arrangements arranged diagonally along each of a pair of front body sections. Each of the side ventilation arrangements can be opened and closed as desired with a slide fastener and has an air permeable part made of mesh is provided therein.

In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved cycling upper garment. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide a cycling upper garment that enables the wearer's elbows to bend more readily while suppressing the resulting increase in air resistance.

The foregoing object can be attained by providing a cycling upper garment that basically comprises an upper garment main body and a pair of sleeves. The sleeves are attached to the upper garment main body. Each of the sleeves has a first expanded part that is provided in a portion corresponding to a wearer's elbow joint and that is expanded relative to both adjoining sections of the sleeve.

In this upper garment, the first expanded part of each sleeve is provided in a portion corresponding to a wearer's elbow joint and configured to expand from both sections adjoining thereto. Since a first expanded part is provided in a portion of each sleeve corresponding to the wearer's elbow joint, only the portion corresponding to the elbow joint is made more roomy while the rest of the sleeve can be made to fit closely to the arm. Consequently, a cycling upper garment is obtained which enables the wearer to bend his or her elbows readily and operate the brakes, gear shifters, etc., of a bicycle smoothly while also suppressing the increase in air resistance that results from making the elbow sections more roomy.

In the cycling upper garment in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, each of the sleeves has a cuff with a second expanded part provided at the cuff. With this cycling upper garment, since second expanded parts are provided at the cuffs, the wearer's hands can easily pass through the cuffs and the upper garment is easier to put on. Also, the wearer can operate the brakes, gear shifters, etc., of a bicycle smoothly because the cuffs are not excessively tight against the wearer's wrists.

In the cycling upper garment in accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, the first expanded parts are larger than the second expanded parts. With this cycling upper garment, the expanded parts can be optimized because the first expanded parts, which correspond to the elbow joints, are larger than the second expanded parts, which are provided at the cuffs.

In the cycling upper garment in accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, the sleeves are attached to the upper garment main body in such a fashion that the cuffs are oriented in a generally forward direction. Since the cuffs of the sleeves are oriented in a generally forward direction, when a wearer mounts a bicycle, it is more comfortable for the wearer to assume a riding posture and more difficult for wrinkles that adversely affect the air resistance to develop.

In the cycling upper garment in accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, provided with at least a pair of side ventilation arrangements, such that each of the ventilation arrangements extends from a corresponding one of the sleeves to a bottom hem of the upper garment main body such that each of the ventilation arrangements extends through an underarm portion formed between the upper garment main body and the corresponding sleeve. With this cycling upper garment, large ventilation arrangements can be obtained because the ventilation arrangements run from the sleeves to the bottom hem of the upper garment main body in such a fashion as to pass through the underarm portions. Consequently, a large quantity of air can be efficiently taken into the upper garment and discharged through the ventilation arrangements, thereby enabling sufficient ventilation performance to be obtained. Additionally, since the underarm portions are comparatively difficult to see from the front, the ventilation arrangements do not easily degrade the cosmetic appearance of the upper garment.

In the cycling upper garment in accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, each of the ventilation arrangements has an air passage part made of an air permeable material and an open-close part configured and arranged to selectively expose and cover the air passage part from outside of the cycling upper garment. With this cycling upper garment, when the open-close parts of the ventilation arrangements are opened, the ventilation arrangements do not readily undergo cyclical flapping due to the flow of air because the air passage parts are arranged on the inside.

With the present invention, since a first expanded part is provided in a portion of each sleeve corresponding to the wearer's elbow joint, only the portion corresponding to the elbow joint is made more roomy while the rest of the sleeve can be made to fit closely to the arm. Consequently, a cycling upper garment is obtained which enables the wearer to bend his or her elbows readily so as not to inhibit operation of the brakes, gear shifters, etc., of a bicycle and suppresses the resulting increase in the air resistance experienced when the cycling upper garment is worn.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front side elevational view of a cycling upper garment in the form of a cycling rain jacket in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear side elevational view of the cycling upper garment illustrated in FIG. 1 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front side elevational view of the cycling upper garment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, similar to FIG. 1, but with the side ventilation arrangements in their opened states.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the various sections of the cycling upper garment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 after they have been cut from fabric using pattern paper and prior to being sewn together;

FIG. 5 is a front side elevational view of a cycling upper garment in the form of a cycling rain jacket in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a rear side elevational view of the cycling upper garment illustrated in FIG. 5 in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the various sections of the cycling upper garment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 after they have been cut from fabric using pattern paper and prior to being sewn together;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged top plan view of the cut fabric for making the right-hand sleeve of the cycling upper garment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6; and

FIG. 9 is a front side elevational view of a cycling upper garment in the form of a cycling rain jacket in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Selected embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

First Embodiment

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 to 3, a cycling jacket 10 is illustrated in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The cycling jacket 10 is intended for a rider (cyclist) to wear when riding a bicycle and exemplifies a cycling upper garment in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the cycling jacket 10 is a cold weather jacket for protection from the cold and/or a rain jacket intended to be worn over a jersey chiefly when riding a road bike, mountain bike, or other bike for sports purposes. The cycling jacket 10 is preferably a long-sleeve front-opening upper garment having raglan sleeves that extend from an area adjacent the neck opening.

The cycling jacket 10 basically comprises an upper garment main body 12, a pair of sleeves 14 and 15 attached to both sides of the upper garment main body 12 and at least a pair of side ventilation arrangements 16. The surfaces of the upper garment main body 12 and the sleeves 14 and 15 have been subjected to a waterproofing treatment. As a result, the air permeability of these parts of the upper garment 10 is poorer than that of a typical cycling jersey. The side ventilation arrangements 16 serve to improve the air permeability, i.e., the ventilation.

The sleeve 14 is a tubular member that has a cuff 14 a at its free end. Likewise, the sleeve 15 is a tubular member that has a cuff 15 a at its free end. The side ventilation arrangements 16 extend from a position near the cuffs 14 a and 15 a to a bottom hem part 12 a of the upper garment main body 12 in such a fashion as to pass through underarm portions 14 b and 15 b, respectively. The side ventilation arrangements 16 serve to take air inside the rain jacket 10.

The upper garment main body 12 is made of a polyester fiber or polyurethane fiber fabric. The upper garment main body 12 has a left front body section 21 and a right front body section 22, a back body section 23, a left side member 26, a right side member 27 and a collar 30, all of which are sewn together. The front body sections 21 and 22 are separated so that the rain jacket 10 opens in the front. The front body sections 21 and 22 have upper outside portions to which the sleeves 14 and 15 are sewn. The back body section 23 is arranged to face opposite the front body sections 21 and 22. The back body section 23 has the sleeves 14 and 15 sewn thereto. The side members 26 and 27 are arranged between the front body sections 21 and 22 and the back body section 23. The back body section 23 is arranged facing opposite the front body sections 21 and 22.

As shown on the upper left of FIG. 4, the front body sections 21 and 22 are shaped to be linearly symmetrical with a vertical line of symmetry. The front body section 21 has a first (left) sleeve attaching part 21 a, a first (left) front-to-back attaching part 21 b, a first neckline part 21 c, a slide fastener attaching part 21 d and a front hem part 21 e. Similarly, the front body section 22 has a first (right) sleeve attaching part 22 a, a first (right) front-to-back attaching part 22 b, a first neckline part 22 c, a slide fastener attaching part 22 d and a front hem part 22 e.

The bottom hem part 12 a of the upper garment main body 12 includes a pair of front hem parts 21 e and 22 e of the front body sections 21 and 22, a back hem part 23 e of the back body section 23 and a pair of side hem parts (not numbered) of the side members 26 and 27. The back hem part 23 e of the back body section 23 is arranged to be lower than the front hem parts 21 e and 22 e of the front body sections 21 and 22.

A slide fastener 32 is installed between the front body sections 21 and 22 such that the front body sections 21 and 22 can be selectively separated from each other. The slide fastener 32 is, for example, an open ended slide fastener configured such that the left and right strips of tape can separate at the bottom end of the slide fastener.

The sleeves 14 and 15 are made of the same fabric as the upper garment main body 12. The sleeves 14 and 15 have seams 14 c and 15 c, respectively, for connecting the longitudinal ends of the sleeve material to form a tubular shape for each of the sleeves 14 and 15. In this embodiment, the side ventilation arrangements 16 are arranged to run along the seams 14 c and 15 c from positions near the opening portions of the cuffs 14 a and 15 a toward the underarm portions 14 b and 15 b.

As shown in the lower right portion of FIG. 4, the sleeves 14 and 15 are long sleeves that are linearly symmetrical with a vertical line of symmetry. The sleeves 14 and 15 are arranged so as to cover the portions of the shoulders that protrude beyond the front body sections 21 and 22 and the back body section 23. The sleeve 14 includes the cuff 14 a, a first sleeve forming part 14 d, a second sleeve forming part 14 e and a V-shaped part 14 f. The first and second sleeve forming parts 14 d and 14 e turn and extend in a curved fashion from both sides of the cuff 14 a and are connected together so as to form a seam 14 c. The V-shaped part 14 f is cut in a V-shape from the first sleeve forming part 14 d and sewn to the side member 26. The sleeve 14 also has a first seam part 14 g and a second seam part 14 h. The first seam part 14 g is sewn to the first sleeve attaching part 21 a. The second seam part 14 h extends from the second sleeve forming part 14 e and is sewn to the second sleeve attaching part 23 a.

The sleeve 14 also has a first expanded part 14 i and a second expanded part 14 j. The sleeve 15 also has a first expanded part 15 i and a second expanded part 15 j. The first expanded parts 14 i and 15 i are provided in a portion corresponding to the elbow joint of a wearer and configured to expand from both adjoining sections. The second expanded parts 14 j and 15 j are configured to expand gradually wider toward the tip of the cuff 14 a and 15 a. As shown in FIG. 4, the first expanded parts 14 i and 15 i have the circumference L3 that are larger than the circumference L4 of the second expanded parts 14 j and 15 j at the cuffs 14 a, 15 a. The first expanded parts 14 i, 15 i are provided to enable the wearer to move his or her elbows more freely when wearing the jacket 10. The second expanded parts 14 j and 15 j are provided to allow the wearer's hands to pass easily through the cuffs and make the jacket 10 easier to put on.

The side ventilation arrangements 16 also extend between the front body sections 21 and 22 and the back body section 23 from the underarm portions 14 b and 15 b toward the bottom hem part 12 a. More specifically, each of the side ventilation arrangements 16 runs along the seam between the respective one of the front body sections 21 and 22 and the respective one of the side members 26 and 27 to the respective one of the front hem parts 21 e and 22 e. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the side ventilation arrangements 16 has an air passage part 34 made of an air permeable material and an open-close part 36 configured to cover the air passage part 34 in such a fashion that the air passage part 34 can be opened and closed from the outside. The air passage part 34 includes a perforated mesh part 38, while the open-close part 36 has a slide fastener 40 configured such that it can selectively open and close the passage part 34. The perforated mesh part 38 is made of a stretchy material having numerous through holes. Each of the slide fasteners 40 is a closed end slide fastener that is closed at the end thereof that is near the cuff 14 a and 15 a such that the left and right strips of tape of the slide fastener 40 cannot completely separate from each other at the end near the cuff 14 a and 15 a.

Excluding the slide fastener 32, the side ventilation arrangements 16, and the collar 30, the shapes of the various parts mentioned above will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows the state of the various parts after they have been cut from, for example, a waterproof polyester fabric using a pattern paper. In FIG. 4, the parts are depicted such that the outer fabric side that is exposed to the outside is visible. The fine lines shown just inside the perimeters of the various parts are stitch lines or fold lines, and the portions between the stitch lines or fold lines and the outside perimeter are stitch margins or fold margins.

As shown on the upper left of FIG. 4, the first sleeve attaching part 21 a is arranged on the outward side of an upper portion of the front body section 21 and curves diagonally such that the respective shoulder of the rider protrudes there-beyond. The first front-to-back attaching part 21 b is arranged below the first sleeve attaching part 21 a on the outward side of the front body section 21. The first neckline part 21 c turns inward from the first sleeve attaching part 21 a and curves in generally the shape of a circular arc. The slide fastener attaching part 21 d runs downward from the inward side of the first neckline part 21 c. The front hem part 21 e joins the slide fastener attaching part 21 d and the first front-to-back attaching part 21 b.

Similarly, as shown on the upper left of FIG. 4, the first sleeve attaching part 22 a is arranged on the outward side of an upper portion of the front body section 22 and curves diagonally such that the respective shoulder of the rider protrudes there-beyond. The first front-to-back attaching part 22 b is arranged below the first sleeve attaching part 22 a on the outward side of the front body section 22. The first neckline part 22 c turns inward from the first sleeve attaching part 22 a and curves in generally the shape of a circular arc. The slide fastener attaching part 22 d runs downward from the inward side of the first neckline part 22 c. The front hem part 21 e and 22 e joins the slide fastener attaching part 22 d and the first front-to-back attaching part 22 b.

The first sleeve attaching parts 21 a and 22 a are configured to slant generally diagonally downward and outward such that they are shaped generally like a letter S so as to be curved convexly outward at an upper portion and concavely inward at a lower portion. The first front-to-back attaching parts 21 b and 22 b turn downward from the first sleeve attaching parts 21 a and 22 a and are shaped generally like a combination of a slightly concave curve and a straight line. One of the tape strips of each slide fastener 40 (which form the side ventilation arrangements 16) is sewn to each of the first front-to-back attaching parts 21 b and 22 b. The first neckline parts 21 c and 22 c are configured to curve downward and inward in a circular arc-like shape. The slide fastener 32 (FIG. 1), which connects the front body sections 21 and 22 together, is attached to the slide fastener attaching parts 21 d and 22 d.

As shown in the upper middle section of FIG. 4, the back body section 23 is provided with a pair (left and right) of second sleeve attaching parts 23 a and 23 b, and a pair (left and right) of second front-to-back attaching parts 23 c and 23 d. The second sleeve attaching parts 23 a and 23 b are arranged on both outward sides of an upper portion of the back body section 23 and curve diagonally such that the shoulders of the rider protrude there-beyond. The second front-to-back attaching parts 23 c and 23 d are arranged below the second sleeve attaching parts 23 a and 23 b on both outward sides of the back body section 23, and are connected to the first front-to-back attaching parts 21 b and 22 b through the side members 26 and 27. The back body section 23 also has the back hem part 23 e that joins the bottom ends of the second front-to-back attaching parts 23 c and 23 d and a second neckline part 23 f that is curved convexly downward between the second sleeve attaching parts 23 a and 23 b.

The second sleeve attaching parts 23 a and 23 b are curved convexly outward over the entire lengths thereof and configured to slant diagonally downward and outward from the second neckline part 23 f. The second front-to-back attaching parts 23 c and 23 d are configured to have a slightly concave shape that curves inward. The back hem part 23 e is configured to protrude downward so as to be longer than the front body sections 21 and 22. Thus, the back body section 23 is quite a bit longer than front body sections 21 and 22. As a result, the rain jacket can cover the rider's pants even when the rider's torso is bent forward and the rider's pants are less likely to become wet.

As shown in the lower right portion of FIG. 4, the sleeves 14 and 15 are long sleeves that are linearly symmetrical with a vertical line of symmetry. The sleeves 14 and 15 are arranged so as to cover the portions of the shoulders that protrude beyond the front body sections 21 and 22 and the back body section 23. The sleeve 14 includes the cuff 14 a, a first sleeve forming part 14 d, a second sleeve forming part 14 e and a V-shaped part 14 f. The first and second sleeve forming parts 14 d and 14 e turn and extend in a curved fashion from both sides of the cuff 14 a and are connected together so as to form a seam 14 c. The V-shaped part 14 f is cut in a V-shape from the first sleeve forming part 14 d and sewn to the side member 26. The sleeve 14 also has a first seam part 14 g and a second seam part 14 h. The first seam part 14 g is sewn to the first sleeve attaching part 21 a. The second seam part 14 h extends from the second sleeve forming part 14 e and is sewn to the second sleeve attaching part 23 a.

Likewise, the sleeve 15 includes the cuff 15 a, a first sleeve forming part 15 d, a second sleeve forming part 15 e and a V-shaped part 15 f. The first and second sleeve forming parts 15 d and 15 e turn and extend in a curved fashion from both sides of the cuff 15 a and are connected together so as to form a seam 15 c. The V-shaped part 15 f is cut in a V-shape from the first sleeve forming part 15 d and sewn to the side member 27. The sleeve 15 also has a first seam part 15 g and a second seam part 15 h. The first seam part 15 g is sewn to the first sleeve attaching part 22 a. The second seam part 15 h extends from the second sleeve forming part 15 e and is sewn to the second sleeve attaching part 23 b. The border portions between the V-shaped parts 14 f and 15 f and the first sleeve forming parts 14 d and 15 d form the underarm portions 14 b and 15 b.

Additionally, the first expanded parts 14 i and 15 i are provided at intermediate portions of the first sleeve forming parts 14 d and 15 d and the second sleeve forming parts 14 e and 15 e that correspond to the elbow joints of a wearer. The second expanded parts 14 j and 15 j are provided at the cuffs 14 a and 15 a.

The left and right side members 26 and 27 are shaped to be linearly symmetrical with a vertical line of symmetry. The side member 26 has a first connecting part 26 a, a second connecting part 26 b and a protruding part 26 c. The first connecting part 26 a is sewn to the first front-to-back attaching part 21 b of the front body section 21. The second connecting part 26 b is arranged opposite the first connecting part 26 a and sewn to the second front-to-back attaching part 23 c of the back body section 23. The protruding part 26 c is configured to protrude upward in a circular arc-like shape and sewn to the V-shaped part 14 f of the sleeve 14. Likewise, the side member 27 has a first connecting part 27 a, a second connecting part 27 b and a protruding part 27 c. The first connecting part 27 a is sewn to the first front-to-back attaching part 22 b of the front body section 22. The second connecting part 27 b is arranged opposite the first connecting part 27 a and sewn to the second front-to-back attaching part 23 d of the back body section 23. The protruding part 27 c is configured to protrude upward in a circular arc-like shape and sewn to the V-shaped part 15 f of the sleeve 15.

The mesh parts 38 and the slide fasteners 40 of the side ventilation arrangements 16 are indicated in FIG. 4 with hatching lines that slant downward to the left. More specifically, the mesh parts 38 and the slide fasteners 40 are sewn between the first sleeve forming parts 14 d and 15 d and the second sleeve forming parts 14 e and 15 e starting at a position that is, for example, approximately 1 to 15 centimeters from the respective cuffs 14 a and 15 a. The mesh parts 38 and the slide fasteners 40 also pass through underarm portions 14 b and 15 b and are the sewn between the first front-to-back attaching parts 21 b and 22 b of the front body sections 21 and 22 and the first connecting parts 26 a and 27 a of the side members 26 and 27. Each mesh part 38 has a width such that each of the side ventilation arrangements 16 can open, for example, approximately 1 to 10 centimeters.

With the cycling jacket 10 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, the side ventilation arrangements 16 are closed when the sliders 40 a of the slide fasteners 40 are positioned at the bottom hem part 12 a as shown in FIG. 1 and fully open when the sliders 40 a are grasped and pulled upward and moved along the sleeves 14 and 15 to the cuffs 14 a and 15 a as shown in FIG. 3. The cross sectional ventilation area of the side ventilation arrangements 16 can be adjusted as appropriate by varying the amount by which the slide fasteners 40 are moved. When the side ventilation arrangements 16 are open, the mesh parts 38 (which serve as the air passage parts 34) are exposed and air can be taken into and discharged from the inside of the jacket 10. As a result, the ventilation performance is improved.

Since a first expanded part 14 i and 15 i is provided in a portion of each of the sleeves 14 and 15 corresponding to a wearer's elbow joint, i.e., the portions that will contact the elbow joint when the jacket 10 is worn, only the portion corresponding to the elbow joint is made more roomy while the rest of the sleeves 14 and 15 can be made to fit closely to the arm. Consequently, a cycling upper garment is obtained which enables the wearer to bend his or her elbows readily so as not to inhibit operation of the brakes, gear shifters, etc., of a bicycle and suppresses the resulting increase in the air resistance experienced when the cycling upper garment is worn.

Also, the ventilation arrangements 16 are not limited to the upper garment main body 12 but, instead, span from positions on the sleeves 14 and 15 near the cuffs 14 a and 15 a to the bottom hem part 12 a of the upper garment main body 12 in such a fashion as to pass through the underarm portions 14 b and 15 b. As a result, the cross sectional areas of the ventilation arrangements 16 are larger than in a conventional upper garment in which ventilation arrangements are provided only in the front body sections 21 and 22. Consequently, a large quantity of air can be taken into and discharged from the jacket 10 through the ventilation arrangements 16, thereby enabling sufficient ventilation performance to be obtained. Additionally, since the underarm portions 14 b and 15 b are comparatively difficult to see from the front, the ventilation arrangements 16 do not easily degrade the cosmetic appearance of the jacket 10.

Additionally, since second expanded parts 14 j and 15 j are provided at the cuffs 14 a and 15 a, it is easier for a wearer's hands to pass through the cuffs and thus easier to put the jacket 10 on. Also, the wearer can operate the brakes, gear shifters, etc., of a bicycle smoothly because the cuffs are not excessively tight against the wearer's wrists.

Second Embodiment

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 8, a cycling jacket 60 is illustrated in accordance with a second embodiment. In view of the similarity between the first and second embodiments, the descriptions of the parts of the second embodiment that are identical or substantially identical to the parts of the first embodiment may be omitted for the sake of brevity. Rather, it will be apparent that the descriptions of the parts of the first embodiment that are identical or substantially identical to the parts of the second embodiment apply to the second embodiment, unless otherwise indicated.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cycling jacket 60 is preferably a long-sleeve front-opening upper garment having raglan sleeves that extend from the neck opening. The cycling jacket 60 in accordance with the second embodiment is a cycling jersey that is designed to fit closely to a wearer's body and intended to be worn chiefly when riding a road bike, mountain bike, or other bike for sports purposes. The cycling jacket 60 comprises an upper garment main body 62, a pair of sleeves 64 and 65 attached to both sides of the upper garment main body 62 and a pair of side ventilation arrangements 66. The surfaces of the upper garment main body 62 and the sleeves 64 and 65 have been subjected to a waterproofing treatment. As a result, the air permeability of these parts of the upper garment 60 is poorer than that of a typical cycling jersey. The side ventilation arrangements 66 serve to improve the air permeability, i.e., the ventilation. In the first embodiment, the ventilation arrangements 16 are provided between the front body sections 21 and 22 and the back body section 23, but in the second embodiment the sleeves 64 and 65 are configured to face forward as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The sleeve 64 is a tubular member that has a cuff 64 a at its free end. Likewise, the sleeve 65 is a tubular member that has a cuff 165 a at its free end. The first and second side ventilation arrangements 66 extend from a position near the cuffs 64 a and 65 a of the sleeves 64 and 65 to a bottom hem part 62 a of the upper garment main body 62 in such a fashion as to pass through underarm portions 64 b and 65 b, the side ventilation arrangements 66, respectively. The first and second side ventilation arrangements 66 serve to ventilate the inside the jacket 60.

The upper garment main body 62 has a left front body section 71 and a right front body section 72, a back body section 73, a left side member 76, a right side member 77 and a collar 80, all of which are sewn together. The front body sections 71 and 72 are separated so that the rain jacket 10 opens in the front. The front body sections 71 and 72 have upper outside portions to which the sleeves 64 and 65 are sewn. The back body section 73 is arranged to face opposite the front body sections 71 and 72. The back body section 73 has the sleeves 74 and 75 sewn thereto. The side members 76 and 77 are arranged between the front body sections 71 and 72 and the back body section 73. The back body section 73 is arranged facing opposite the front body sections 71 and 72. The back hem part 73 e of the back body section 73 is arranged to be lower than the front hem parts 71 e and 72 e of the front body sections 71 and 72. A slide fastener 82 is installed between the separate left and right front body sections 71 and 72 such that the front body sections 71 and 72 can be separated from each other. The slide fastener 82 is, for example, an open ended slide fastener configured such that the left and right strips of tape of the slide fastener 82 can separate completely at the bottom end of the slide fastener 82.

The sleeve 64 has a sleeve main body section 74 and a lower sleeve section 78 configured to be arranged on a bottom portion of the sleeve main body section 74. Likewise, the sleeve 65 has a sleeve main body section 75 and a lower sleeve section 79 configured to be arranged on a bottom portion of the respective sleeve main body section 75. The sleeves 64 and 65 have seams 64 c, 64 d, 65 c, 65 d for forming a tubular shape (only 64 c and 64 d are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6), and the side ventilation arrangements 66 are arranged to run along the seams 64 c and 65 c from positions near the opening portions of the cuffs 64 a and 65 a toward the underarm portions 64 b and 65 b.

The sleeve 74 also has a first expanded part 74 i and a second expanded part 74 j. The sleeve 75 also has a first expanded part 75 i and a second expanded part 75 j. The first expanded parts 74 i and 75 i are provided in a portion corresponding to the elbow joint of a wearer and configured to expand from both adjoining sections. The second expanded parts 74 j and 75 j are configured to expand gradually wider toward the tip of the cuff 74 a and 75 a. As shown in FIG. 7, the first expanded parts 74 i and 75 i have circumferences L3 that are larger than the circumference L4 of the second expanded parts 74 j and 75 j at the cuffs 74 a and 75 a. The first expanded parts 74 i and 75 i are provided to enable the wearer to move his or her elbows more freely when wearing the jersey 60. The second expanded parts 74 j and 75 j are provided to allow the wearer's hands to pass easily through the cuffs and make the jersey 60 easier to put on.

The side ventilation arrangements 66 also run between the front body sections 71 and 72 and the back body section 73 from the underarm portions 64 b and 65 b toward the front hem part 62 a. More specifically, each first ventilation opening 66 runs along the seam between the respective one of the front body sections 71 and 72 and the respective one of the side members 76 and 77 to the respective the respective one of the front hem parts 71 e and 72 e. Meanwhile, each of the second ventilation openings 67 extends generally vertically along the back body section 73 along a curved path from the respective one of the underarm portions 64 b and 65 b to a position just above the back hem part 73 e. Each of the side ventilation arrangements 66 has an air passage part made of an air permeable material and an open-close part configured to cover the air passage part in such a fashion that the air passage part can be opened and closed from the outside in the same manner as shown in FIG. 3 for the side ventilation arrangements 16. Each of the air passage parts has a perforated mesh part and each of the open-close parts has a slide fastener 90 configured such that it can open and close the passage part. Each of the slide fasteners 90 is a closed end slide fastener that is closed at the end thereof that is near the respective one of the cuffs 64 a and 65 a such that the left and right strips of tapes of the slide fasteners 90 cannot separate from each other. The perforated mesh part is made of a stretchy material having numerous through holes.

Excluding the slide fastener 82 and the side ventilation arrangements 66 and 67, the shapes of the various parts mentioned above will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows the state of the various parts after they have been cut from, for example, a waterproof polyester fabric using a pattern paper. In FIG. 7, the parts are depicted such that the outer fabric that is exposed to the outside is visible. The fine lines shown just inside the perimeters of the various parts are stitch lines or fold lines, and the portions between the stitch lines or fold lines and the outside perimeter are stitch margins or fold margins.

As shown on the lower right of FIG. 7, the front body sections 71 and 72 are shaped to be linearly symmetrical with a vertical line of symmetry. The front body section 71 has a first (left) sleeve attaching part 71 a, a first (left) front-to-back attaching part 71 b, a first neckline part 71 c, a slide fastener attaching part 71 d and a front hem part 72 e. Similarly, the front body section 72 has a first (right) sleeve attaching part 72 a, a first (right) front-to-back attaching part 72 b, a first neckline part 72 c, a slide fastener attaching part 72 d and a front hem part 72 e.

The first sleeve attaching parts 71 a and 72 a are configured to slant generally diagonally downward and outward and shaped generally like a letter S so as to be curved convexly outward at an upper portion and concavely inward at a lower portion. The first front-to-back attaching parts 71 b and 72 b turn downward from the first sleeve attaching parts 71 a and 72 a and are shaped generally like a combination of a slightly concave curve and a straight line. The first neckline parts 21 c and 22 c are configured to curve downward and inward in a circular arc-like shape. The slide fastener 82 (FIG. 5), which connects the front body sections 71 and 72 together, is attached to the slide fastener attaching parts 71 d and 72 d. The front hem parts 71 e and 72 e are configured to curve concavely upward along a middle portion thereof. As a result, the jacket 60 does not readily become wrinkled even when the rider bends forward.

As shown in the upper middle section of FIG. 7, the back body section 73 is provided with a pair (left and right) of second sleeve attaching parts 73 a and 73 b, a pair (left and right) of second front-to-back attaching parts 73 c and 73 d, a back bottom edge part 73 e and a second neckline part 73 f. The sleeve attaching parts 73 a and 73 b are arranged on both outward sides of an upper portion of the back body section 73. The sleeve attaching parts 73 a and 73 b are curved diagonally such that the shoulders of the rider protrude there-beyond. The second front-to-back attaching parts 73 c and 73 d are arranged below the second sleeve attaching parts 73 a and 73 b on both outward sides of the back body section 73. The second front-to-back attaching parts 73 c and 73 d are connected to the first front-to-back attaching parts 71 b, 72 b through the side members 76 and 77, respectively. The back bottom edge part 73 e joins the bottom ends of the second sleeve attaching parts 73 a and 73 b. The second neckline part 73 f protrudes from a middle portion of the top of the back body section 73.

The second sleeve attaching parts 73 a and 73 b are curved convexly outward over the entire lengths thereof and configured to slant diagonally downward and outward from the second neckline part 73 f. The second front-to-back attaching parts 73 c and 73 d are configured to have a slightly concave shape that curves inward. The back bottom edge part 73 e is curved so as to bulge in generally the shape of a circular arc along a middle portion thereof. Thus, the back body section 73 is longer than front body sections 71 and 72. As a result, the jersey 60 can cover the rider's pants even when the rider's torso is bent forward. The second neckline part 73 f is configured such that it protrudes upward and is concave in the general shape of a circular arc.

The left and right sleeve main body sections 74 and 75 are arranged so as to cover the portions of the shoulders that protrude beyond the front body sections 71 and 72 and the back body section 73. The sleeve main body section 74 includes an upper cuff 74 a, a first sleeve forming part 74 b, a second sleeve forming part 74 c, a first seam part 74 d, a second seam part 74 e and a neck opening 74 f. The first and second sleeve forming parts 74 b and 74 c turn and extend in a curved fashion from both sides of the upper cuff 74 a, and are connected together through a lower sleeve section 78. The first seam part 74 d is sewn to the first sleeve attaching part 71 a, and has a V-shaped cut part 83 that is cut in a V-shape from the first sleeve forming part 74 b. The second seam part 74 e extends from the second sleeve forming part 74 c, and is sewn to the second sleeve attaching part 73 a. The neck opening 74 f joins the first seam part 74 d and the second seam part 74 e together.

The sleeve main body section 75 includes an upper cuff 75 a, a first sleeve forming part 75 b, a second sleeve forming part 75 c, a first seam part 75 d, a second seam part 75 e and a neck opening 75 f. The first and second sleeve forming parts 75 b and 75 c turn and extend in a curved fashion from both sides of the upper cuff 75 a, and are connected together through a lower sleeve section 79. The first seam part 75 d is sewn to the first sleeve attaching part 77 a, and has a V-shaped cut part 84 that is cut in a V-shape from the first sleeve forming part 75 b. The second seam part 75 e extends from the second sleeve forming part 75 c, and is sewn to the second sleeve attaching part 73 b. The neck opening 75 f joins the first seam part 75 d and the second seam part 75 e together.

Additionally, the first expanded sections 74 i and 75 i are provided at intermediate portions of the first sleeve forming parts 74 d and 75 d and the second sleeve forming parts 74 e and 75 e that correspond to the elbow joints of a wearer. The second expanded sections 74 j and 75 j are provided at the cuffs 74 a and 75 a.

Each of the upper cuffs 74 a and 75 a is substantially linear. The first sleeve forming part 74 b and the second sleeve forming part 74 c extend from the upper cuff 74 a in an inwardly concave manner. Likewise, the first sleeve forming part 75 b and the second sleeve forming part 75 c extend from the upper cuff 75 a in an inwardly concave manner. The first sleeve forming parts 74 b and 75 b are arranged more forward than the second sleeve forming parts 74 c and 75 c, respectively. The first sleeve forming part 74 b and 75 b are shorter in length than the second sleeve forming part 74 c and 75 c. Thus, the sleeves 74 and 75 are configured this way so that the upper cuffs 74 a and 75 a will face forward.

The first seam part 75 d will now be explained with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 shows the right sleeve 75. Since the left-hand sleeve main body section 74 is linearly symmetrical with the right-hand sleeve main body section 75 and has the same shape, an explanation of the first seam part 74 d is omitted here for the sake of brevity.

The V-shaped cut part 84 of the first seam part 75 d has a small curve section 84 a and a pair of large curve sections 84 b and 84 c that extend from both ends of the small curve section 84 a in such a fashion as to gradually spread apart. The radius of curvature R1 of the small curve section 84 a about a center O1 is equal to or larger than 3 mm and smaller than or equal to 20 mm, preferably equal to or larger than 5 mm and smaller than or equal to 10 mm. In this embodiment the radius of curvature R1 is 7 mm. The large curve section 84 b extends in a curved fashion toward the first sleeve forming part 75 b from one end of the small curve section 84 a. The radius of curvature R2 of the large curve section 84 b about a center O2 is equal to or larger than 200 mm and smaller than or equal to 600 mm, preferably equal to or larger than 300 mm and smaller than or equal to 400 mm. In this embodiment the radius of curvature R2 is 333 mm. Meanwhile, the large curve section 84 c extends in a curved fashion toward the neck opening 75 f from the other end of the small curve section 84 a. The radius of curvature R3 of the large curve section 84 c about a center O3 is equal to or larger than 200 mm and smaller than or equal to 600 mm, preferably equal to or larger than 300 mm and smaller than or equal to 400 mm. In this embodiment the radius of curvature R3 is 333 mm. The second angle of intersection α2 between the large curve sections 84 b, 84 c is preferably equal to or larger than 20° and smaller than or equal to 80° and is set to 45° in this embodiment. The second angle of intersection α2 is the smaller of the angles formed by the intersection of a tangent line C2 that is tangent to the large curve section 84 b at the lengthwise midpoint of the large curve section 84 b and a tangent line C3 that is tangent to the large curve section 84 c at the lengthwise midpoint of the large curve section 84 c.

When the angle of the V-shaped cut part 84 is set as described above, the sleeve 65 is lifted up about a substantially horizontal axis centered on the small curve section 84 a of the jacket 60 (i.e., rotated clockwise about said horizontal axis when the jacket 60 is viewed from the left side) and the cuff 65 a is oriented more upward than downward. The degree to which the cuff 65 a is oriented upward increases as the second angle α2 decreases.

Also, a first angle α1 formed by the intersection of a first straight line L1 that is a substantially perpendicular bisector with respect to the cuff 65 a and a second straight line that runs along the apex of the rider's shoulder from the neck opening 65 f toward a shoulder opening is equal to or larger than 30° and smaller than or equal to 90°, preferably equal to or larger than 30° and smaller than or equal to 90°. In this embodiment, the first angle α1 is 57°. If the first angle α1 exceeds 90°, the jacket 60 will feel restrictive when worn. Conversely, if the first angle α1 is less than 30°, the sleeve 65 will be oriented toward the side, causing wrinkles and tension to develop easily when the jacket 60 is worn. By configuring the jacket 60 such that the first and second straight lines L1 and L2 intersect with a first angle α1, the entire sleeve 65 is rotated (swung) inward about an approximately vertical axis of the garment in accordance with the intersection angle so as to be oriented in a forward direction, thereby causing the cuff 65 a, too, to be oriented in a forward direction.

As shown in FIG. 7, each of the second seam parts 74 e and 75 e are configured in the shape of a smooth generally circular arc and are sewn to the second sleeve attaching parts 73 a and 73 b of the back body section 73, respectively. A sharp angle is formed between the second seam parts 74 e and 75 e and the second sleeve forming parts 74 c and 75 c of each of the sleeve main body sections 74 and 75, respectively.

The neck openings 74 f and 75 f are configured to turn at intermediate positions so as to link to the first neckline parts 71 c and 72 c of the front body sections 71 and 72 and the second neckline part 73 f of the back body section 73 in a continuous fashion. The collar 80 is placed on top of and sewn to the neckline parts 71 c, 72 c and 73 f and the neck openings 74 f and 75 f.

The left and right side members 76 and 77 are shaped to be linearly symmetrical with a vertical line of symmetry. The side member 76 has a first connecting part 76 a, a second connecting part 76 b, a first arm hole part 76 c, a bottom hem part 76 d, and a third sleeve attaching part 76 e. The first connecting part 76 a is sewn to the first front-to-back attaching part 71 b of the front body section 71. The second connecting part 76 b is arranged opposite the first connecting part 76 a and sewn to the second front-to-back attaching part 73 g of the back body section 73. The first arm hole part 76 c is arranged on top and configured to be concave in a circular arc-like shape. The bottom hem part 76 d is arranged on the bottom and configured to slant upward toward the front, and a third sleeve attaching part 76 e that curves from the second connecting part 76 b and connects to the first arm hole part 76 c in such a fashion as to form a sharp angle.

The side member 77 has a first connecting part 77 a, a second connecting part 77 b, a first arm hole part 77 c, a bottom hem part 77 d, and a third sleeve attaching part 77 e. The first connecting part 77 a is sewn to the first front-to-back attaching part 72 b of the front body section 72. The second connecting part 77 b is arranged opposite the first connecting part 77 a and sewn to the second front-to-back attaching part 73 h of the back body section 73. The first arm hole part 77 c is arranged on top and configured to be concave in a circular arc-like shape. The bottom hem part 77 d is arranged on the bottom and configured to slant upward toward the front. The third sleeve attaching part 77 e curves from the second connecting part 77 b and connects to the first arm hole part 77 c in such a fashion as to form a sharp angle.

Forming the side members 76 and 77 in this way enables the jacket 60 to fit the human body better and reduces the air resistance by suppressing the formation of wrinkles. It also suppresses the development of tension between the front body sections 71 and 72 and the back body section 73 on both sides of the wearer's body and improves the comfort of the jacket 60.

The left and right lower sleeve sections 78 and 79 are shaped to be linearly symmetrical with a vertical line of symmetry. The lower sleeve section 78 includes a lower cuff 78 a, a third connecting part 78 b, a fourth connecting part 78 c, a second arm hole part 78 d and a third arm hole part 78 e. The lower cuff 78 a is arranged below the upper cuff 74 a of the respective sleeve main body section 74 and forms the cuff 64 a together with the upper cuff 74 a. The third connecting part 78 b extends from the front side of the lower cuff 79 a and runs along first sleeve forming part 74 b of the sleeve main body section 74. The fourth connecting part 78 c extends from the back side of the lower cuff 78 a runs along the second sleeve forming part 74 c of the respective sleeve main body section 74. The second and third arm hole parts 78 d and 78 e join the third and fourth connecting parts 78 b and 78 c together along a convexly shaped path. The third connecting part 78 b is sewn to the first sleeve forming part 74 b. The fourth connecting part 78 c is sewn to the entire second sleeve forming part 74 c, except for a portion of the armhole side of the second sleeve forming part 74 c. The second armhole part 78 d is sewn to the first armhole part 76 c of the side member 76. The third armhole part 79 e is sewn to the second armhole part 74 c of the sleeve main body section 74. The tip end portion of the armhole side of the second sleeve forming part 74 c is sewn to the third attaching part 76 e of the side member 76.

The lower sleeve section 79 includes a lower cuff 79 a, a third connecting part 79 b, a fourth connecting part 79 c and a second arm hole part 79 d and a third arm hole part 79 e. The lower cuff 79 a is arranged below the upper cuff 75 a of the respective sleeve main body section 74 and forms the cuff 65 a together with the respective upper cuff 75 a. The third connecting part 79 b extends from the front side of the lower cuff 79 a and runs along first sleeve forming part 75 b of the sleeve main body section 75. The fourth connecting part 79 c extends from the back side of the lower cuff 79 a runs along the second sleeve forming part 75 c of the sleeve main body section 75. The second and third arm hole parts 79 d and 79 e join the third and fourth connecting parts 79 b and 79 c together along a convexly shaped path. The third connecting part 79 b is sewn to the first sleeve forming part 75 b. The fourth connecting part 79 c is sewn to the entire second sleeve forming part 75 c, except for a portion of the armhole side of the second sleeve forming part 75 c. The second armhole part 79 d is sewn to the first armhole part 77 c of the side member 77. The third armhole part 79 e is sewn to the second armhole part 75 c of the sleeve main body section 75. The tip end portion of the armhole side of the second sleeve forming part 75 c is sewn to the third attaching part 77 e of the side member 77.

Providing lower sleeve sections 78 and 79 configured as just described enables the jacket 60 to fit the upper arms of the wearer better and reduces the air resistance by suppressing the formation of wrinkles. It also suppresses the development of tension in the sleeves 64 and 65 and improves the comfort of the jacket 60.

The mesh parts (which serve as air passage parts) and the slide fasteners 90 of the ventilation arrangements 66 are sewn to the portions indicated in FIG. 7 with hatching lines that slant downward to the left. More specifically, the mesh part and the slide fastener 90 of each of the ventilation arrangements 66 is sewn between the first sleeve forming part 74 b and 75 b of the respective sleeve main body 74 and 75 and the third connecting part 78 b and 79 b of the respective lower sleeve member 78, 79 and between the first front-to-back attaching part 71 b and 72 b of the respective front body 71 and 72 and the first connecting part 76 a and 77 a of the respective side member 76 and 77.

In a cycling jersey 60 in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, the sleeves 64 and 65 are configured such that the first straight line L1 and the second straight line L2 intersect with a first angle α1. As a result, when the sleeves 64 and 65 are sewn to the front body sections 71, 72 and the back body section 73, the entire sleeves 64 and 65 are rotated (swung) inward about an approximately vertical axis of the garment in accordance with the first angle α1 so as to be oriented in a forward direction, thereby causing the cuffs 64 a and 65 a, too, to be oriented in a forward direction. Additionally, since a V-shaped cut part 84 having a second angle α2 is provided, when the sleeves 64 and 65 are sewn to the front body sections 71 and 72, the forwardly oriented sleeves 64 and 65 are rotated about a substantially horizontal axis of the jersey 60 so as to be even further oriented toward the front. As a result, since the sleeves 64 and 65 are oriented toward the front of the jersey 60, the jersey 60 does not readily become uncomfortably tight at the backs of the rider's shoulders or develop wrinkles in the front portions of the rider's shoulders when the rider mounts a bicycle, bends forward, and extends his or her arms forward to grip the handlebar, e.g., the drop handlebar of a road bike. Thus, the comfort of the jersey 60 when a drop handlebar is gripped is improved and the air resistance of the garment is reduced.

Also, the ventilation arrangements 66 are not limited to the upper garment main body 62 but, instead, span from positions on the sleeves 64, 65 near the cuffs 64 a and 65 a to the bottom hem part 62 a of the upper garment main body 62 in such a fashion as to pass through the underarm portions 64 b and 65 b. As a result, the cross sectional areas of the ventilation arrangements 66 are larger than in a conventional upper garment in which ventilation arrangements are provided only in the front body sections 71 and 72. Consequently, a large quantity of air can be taken into and discharged from the jersey 60 through the ventilation arrangements 66, thereby enabling sufficient ventilation performance to be obtained. Additionally, since the underarm portions 64 b and 65 b are comparatively difficult to see from the front, the ventilation arrangements 66 do not easily degrade the cosmetic appearance of the jacket 60.

Third Embodiment

Referring now to FIG. 9, a cycling jacket 160 is illustrated in accordance with a third embodiment. In view of the similarity between the third and first embodiments, the descriptions of the parts of the third embodiment that are identical or substantially identical to the parts of the first embodiment may be omitted for the sake of brevity. Rather, it will be apparent that the descriptions of the parts of the first embodiment that are identical or substantially identical to the parts of the third embodiment apply to the third embodiment, unless otherwise indicated.

In this third embodiment, it is acceptable for the open-close parts 36 of the first embodiment to be replaced with hook-and-loop fasteners 190 instead of slide fasteners 40. For example, FIG. 9 shows the cycling rain jacket 160 having an upper garment main body and a pair of sleeves that are provided with a pair of side ventilation arrangements 166. The side ventilation arrangements 166 are the same as those of the first embodiment, except that the slide fasteners are replaced with hook-and-loop fasteners 190. In such a case, the respective seam portions can be formed to have overlapping portions and the tape having the hooks and the tape having the loops can be sewn separately to opposing overlapping portions to form the hook-and-loop fasteners. By using hook-and-loop fasteners 190, the side ventilation arrangements 166 can be partially opened at any desired portion or opened at multiple portions.

In this example, too, the sleeves have a first expanded section 164 i or 165 i and a second expanded section 164 j or 165 j. These expanded sections 164 i, 165 i, 164 j and 165 j are provided in the same positions as the expanded sections of the previous embodiments.

Other Embodiments

In each of the embodiments described herein, it is acceptable for the mesh part 38 to be made of a net-like material instead of a material have a large number of through holes. Also in the prior embodiments, the side ventilation arrangements 16, 66 and 67 are configured to run to positions near the cuffs 14 a and 15 a, 64 a, 65 a of the sleeves 14 and 15, 64 and 65. However, it is also acceptable to provide side ventilation arrangements that cut through the cuffs.

Although in the first and second embodiments the ventilation arrangements 16 or 66 are configured to run to positions near the cuffs 14 a, 15 a, 64 a, 65 a of the sleeves 14, 15, 64, 65, the present invention is not limited to such an arrangement. The effects of the invention can be realized so long as ventilation arrangements are provide which run from the sleeves to the bottom hem of the main body of the garment in such a fashion as to pass through the underarm portions. For example, it is acceptable for the ventilation arrangements to start from positions in the vicinity of the wearer's elbows when the upper garment is worn. In such a case, the cross sectional areas of the ventilation arrangements will be slightly smaller than in the previous embodiments, but the ventilation performance will still be improved significantly in comparison with the prior art. Furthermore, since the ventilation arrangements are not provided in the forearm area, the sleeves fit the wearer's arms more closely and do not disturb the wearer's ability to change grips on the handlebar, shift gears, operate the brakes, etc., while riding.

Although in the previously described embodiments the front body is divided in to a pair of left and right members, the present invention can also be applied to a cycling upper garment in which the front body is constructed as a single member.

Although the previously described embodiments illustrate cases in which the invention is applied to a rain jacket whose surface has been treated to make it waterproof, the present invention can also be applied to a regular cycling jersey.

In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Finally, terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. For example, these terms can be construed as including a deviation of at least ±5% of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies.

While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A cycling upper garment for a rider to wear when riding a bicycle, comprising: an upper garment main body; and a pair of sleeves attached to the upper garment main body, each of the sleeves having a first expanded part that is provided in a portion corresponding to a wearer's elbow joint and that is expanded relative to both adjoining sections of the sleeve.
 2. The cycling upper garment as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the sleeves has a cuff with a second expanded part provided at the cuff.
 3. The cycling upper garment as recited in claim 2, wherein the first expanded parts are larger than the second expanded parts.
 4. The cycling upper garment as recited in claim 1, wherein the sleeves are attached to the upper garment main body in such a fashion that the cuffs are oriented in a generally forward direction.
 5. The cycling upper garment as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pair of side ventilation arrangements, each of the ventilation arrangements extending from a corresponding one of the sleeves to a bottom hem of the upper garment main body such that each of the ventilation arrangements extends through an underarm portion formed between the upper garment main body and the corresponding sleeve.
 6. The cycling upper garment as recited in claim 5, wherein each of the ventilation arrangements has an air passage part made of an air permeable material and an open-close part configured and arranged to selectively expose and cover the air passage part from outside of the cycling upper garment.
 7. The cycling upper garment as recited in claim 2, wherein the sleeves are attached to the upper garment main body in such a fashion that the cuffs are oriented in a generally forward direction.
 8. The cycling upper garment as recited in claim 2, further comprising a pair of side ventilation arrangements, each of the ventilation arrangements extending from a corresponding one of the sleeves to a bottom hem of the upper garment main body such that each of the ventilation arrangements extends through an underarm portion formed between the upper garment main body and the corresponding sleeve.
 9. The cycling upper garment as recited in claim 8, wherein each of the ventilation arrangements has an air passage part made of an air permeable material and an open-close part configured and arranged to selectively expose and cover the air passage part from outside of the cycling upper garment.
 10. The cycling upper garment as recited in claim 3, wherein the sleeves are attached to the upper garment main body in such a fashion that the cuffs are oriented in a generally forward direction.
 11. The cycling upper garment as recited in claim 3, further comprising a pair of side ventilation arrangements, each of the ventilation arrangements extending from a corresponding one of the sleeves to a bottom hem of the upper garment main body such that each of the ventilation arrangements extends through an underarm portion formed between the upper garment main body and the corresponding sleeve.
 12. The cycling upper garment as recited in claim 11, wherein each of the ventilation arrangements has an air passage part made of an air permeable material and an open-close part configured and arranged to selectively expose and cover the air passage part from outside of the cycling upper garment.
 13. The cycling upper garment as recited in claim 4, further comprising a pair of side ventilation arrangements, each of the ventilation arrangements extending from a corresponding one of the sleeves to a bottom hem of the upper garment main body such that each of the ventilation arrangements extends through an underarm portion formed between the upper garment main body and the corresponding sleeve.
 14. The cycling upper garment as recited in claim 13, wherein each of the ventilation arrangements has an air passage part made of an air permeable material and an open-close part configured and arranged to selectively expose and cover the air passage part from outside of the cycling upper garment. 